Lighting assembly

ABSTRACT

A lighting assembly includes a light stand, a lighting unit, and a modular rod assembly connecting the lighting unit to the light stand. The modular rod assembly includes a connection rod, a first extension rod connected to the connection rod, and a tubular fastener. The connection rod has a first coupling end. The first extension rod has a second coupling end. The tubular fastener is movably disposed around the first extension rod and is operable to move toward and sleeve around the first and second coupling ends such that the tubular fastener is engaged with the first coupling end and that the second coupling end is clamped between the first coupling end and the tubular fastener.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/986,560, filed on May 22, 2018.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a modular rod assembly, and more particularlyto a lighting assembly that includes a modular rod assembly.

BACKGROUND

A conventional fishing pole style floor lamp assembly generally includestwo rods, one of which has an external thread, and the other one ofwhich has an internal thread. To assemble together the two rods, one ofthe two rods has to be rotated relative to the other rod to interengagethe external and internal threads of the rods. Therefore, the method ofassembly is to rotate entirely one of the rods relative to the other rodand is inconvenient. Further, when the rods are assembled, there may bea problem in that the external and internal threads are insufficientlyor overly tightened by the user. In case of insufficient tightening, theentire lamp assembly will have poor fixing strength. In case ofover-tightening, wires inside the rods will be twisted or entangled,thereby adversely affecting the circuit connection of the lamp assembly.

SUMMARY

Therefore, one object of the disclosure is to provide a modular rodassembly that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the priorart.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a modular rod assemblyincludes a connection rod, a first extension rod and at least onetubular fastener.

The connection rod has a first coupling end.

The first extension rod has a second coupling end removably connected tothe first coupling end of the connection rod.

The at least one tubular fastener is operable to sleeve around the firstand second coupling ends such that the at least one tubular fastener isengaged with the first coupling end and that the second coupling end isclamped between the first coupling end and the at least one tubularfastener.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a modular rod assemblyincludes a connection rod, a first extension rod and a tubular fastener.

The connection rod has a first coupling end.

The first extension rod has a second coupling end removably insertedinto the first coupling end.

The tubular fastener is operable to sleeve around the first and secondcoupling ends such that the tubular fastener is engaged with the firstcoupling end and that the second coupling end is clamped between thefirst coupling end and the tubular fastener.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide a lighting assembly thatcan be conveniently assembled.

According to the disclosure, the lighting assembly includes a lightstand and a light module.

The light module includes a lighting unit and a modular rod assemblyconnecting the lighting unit to the light stand. The modular rodassembly includes a connection rod, a first extension rod connected tothe connection rod, and a tubular fastener. The connection rod has afirst coupling end. The first extension rod has a second coupling end.The tubular fastener is movably disposed around the first extension rodand is operable to move toward and sleeve around the first and secondcoupling ends such that the tubular fastener is engaged with the firstcoupling end and that the second coupling end is clamped between thefirst coupling end and the tubular fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a lighting assembly according to a first embodimentof the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates connection rods inserted into a carrier, and a hollowsupport post of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a connection rod, a first extension rod, a secondextension rod, tubular fasteners and a sleeve member of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, illustrating the connection rod and thefirst extension rod of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the tubularfastener of the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the tubular fastener of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional view illustrating the connection of theconnection rod to the first extension rod by the tubular fastener;

FIG. 9 is a partly sectional view, illustrating the first extension rod,the second extension rod and the sleeve member of the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating the connection ofthe first extension rod to the second extension rod by the sleevemember;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating an alternativeconnection rod of the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the alternativeconnection rod of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a modular rod assembly according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a tubular fastener of the second embodiment;

FIG. 15 illustrates a modular rod assembly according to a thirdembodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a tubular fastener of the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be notedthat where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminalportions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally havesimilar characteristics.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lighting assembly according to a first embodimentof the disclosure includes a light stand 1 and a light emitting device2.

The light stand has a base body 11, and a hollow support post 12connected to the base body 11. The light emitting device 2 includesthree light modules 21 that are arranged in parallel with each other.Each light module 21 includes a light unit 3, and a modular rod assembly4 a, 4 b, or 4 c connecting the lighting unit 3 to the light stand 1.The light unit 3 includes a light emitter 31, a light shade 32 coveringthe light emitter 31, and a wire 33 extending through the modular rodassembly 4 a, 4 b or 4 c and the hollow support post 12 to the base body11. The light emitter 31 can be, but not limited to, one of afluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp and an LED bulb.The wire 33 is used to electrically connect the light emitter 31 to anexternal power source connector, such as an electrical socket (notshown).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the hollow support post 12 has a post body121 threadedly connected to the base body 11, and a fastening hole 124formed on a top end of the post body 121. A carrier 122 is disposed onthe top end of the post body 121 and has a threaded hole 123 beingcapable of communicating with and smaller in diameter than the fasteninghole 124. The carrier 122 is partially inserted into and partiallyexposed from the top end of the post body 121. When the threaded hole123 is aligned with the fastening hole 124, a screw 5 is rotated by atool 7 into the fastening hole 124 and the threaded hole 123.Accordingly, the carrier 122 is fixedly assembled to the hollow supportpost 12 by the screw 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, in combination with FIGS. 1 and 2, the modular rodassemblies 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c of the light modules 21 are assembled toand curvedly extend from the carrier 122 in a fishing pole style. Themodular rod assembly 4 a includes a connection rod 41 connected to thecarrier 122, a first extension rod 42 removably connected to theconnection rod 41, and a tubular fastener 44 movably disposed around thefirst extension rod 42. The modular rod assemblies 4 b and 4 c aredifferent from the modular rod assembly 4 a in that each of the modularrod assemblies 4 b and 4 c further includes a second extension rod 43and a sleeve member 45. In addition, each of the modular rod assemblies4 b and 4 c includes two tubular fasteners 44.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, for each modular rod assembly 4 a, 4 b or 4 c,the connection rod 41 that extends through the carrier 122 and has aconnection thread 411 extending outward from a bottom end of the carrier122, and a stop flange 412 disposed in abutment with a top end of thecarrier 122 opposite to the connection thread 411. A nut 6 is threadedlysleeved around the connection thread 411. When the nut 6 is rotatedrelative to the connection thread 411 until it abuts the bottom end ofthe carrier 122, the stop flange 412 moves downward and tightly abutsthe top end of the carrier 122 so that the connection rod 41 is securedto the carrier 122.

Referring to FIG. 5, in combination with FIG. 4, the connection rod 41further has a first coupling end 413 opposite to the stop flange 412 andthe connection thread 411. The first coupling end 413 has a connectionrod external thread 414 and a hole 415. The first extension rod 42 has afirst rod body 421 and a second coupling end 422 connected to the firstrod body 421. The first rod body 421 has a first extension rod externalthread 423 opposite to the second coupling end 422. The second couplingend 422 has a first insertion portion 424 that extends downwardly from abottom end of the first rod body 421, and a first annular flange 425that extends radially and outwardly from the first insertion portion424. The first annular flange 425 is spaced apart from a bottom end ofthe first insertion portion 424. The second extension rod 43 has aconfiguration generally similar to that of the first extension rod 42.The second extension rod 43 has a second rod body 431 and a thirdcoupling end 432 connected to a bottom end of the second rod body 431.The third coupling end 432 has a second insertion portion 433 thatextends downwardly from a bottom end of the second rod body 431, and asecond annular flange 434 that extends radially and outwardly from thesecond insertion portion 433 and that is spaced apart from a bottom endof the second insertion portion 433.

While the first and second annular flanges 425, 434 are circular in thisembodiment, they may be provided with a rectangular ring-shape or anyother suitable ring-shape.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, each tubular fastener 44 has a tubularportion 441 and a loop-shaped endplate portion 442 transverselyconnected to the tubular portion 441. The tubular portion 441 has aninner surrounding surface 443 and an outer circumferential surface 444opposite to the inner surrounding surface 443. The loop-shaped end plateportion 442 protrudes inwardly from a top end of the inner surroundingsurface 443. The tubular portion 441 further has an enlarged hole 445bounded by the inner surrounding surface 443. The loop-shaped endplateportion 442 bounds a narrowed hole 446. The narrowed hole 446communicates with and is smaller in diameter than the enlarged hole 445.The inner surrounding surface 443 is formed with a fastener internalthread 447 and has a non-threaded region 4430 between the loop-shapedend plate portion 442 and the fastener internal thread 447. The fastenerinternal thread 447 is capable of engaging the connection rod externalthread 414 of the connection rod 41.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in combination with FIG. 4, the sleevemember 45 has a sleeve member internal thread 451 threadedly connectedto the extension rod external thread 423 of the first extension rod 42,and a sleeve member external thread 452 engageable with the fastenerinternal thread 447 of the tubular fastener 44. The sleeve member 45further has a reception hole 453 allowing insertion of the secondinsertion portion 433 of the second extension rod 43.

Referring to FIG. 8, in combination with FIGS. 5 to 7, to assemble theconnection rod 41 and the first extension rod 42 of the modular rodassembly 4 a, 4 b or 4 c, the second coupling end 422 of the firstextension rod 42 is removably inserted into the first coupling end 413of the connection rod 41 in a manner that the first insertion portion424 of the second coupling end 422 is fittingly or engagingly insertedinto the hole 415 of the first coupling end 413 and that the firstannular flange 425 of the second coupling end 422 abuts the top end ofthe first coupling end 413. By interengagement of the inserted firstinsertion portion 424 with the hole 415, the first extension rod 42 canbe prevented from swaying with respect to the connection rod 41.Subsequently, the tubular fastener 44 is put around the first extensionrod 42 from the top end thereof such that the first rod body 421 of thefirst extension rod 42 extends through the narrowed hole 446 from theenlarged hole the 445. After the tubular fastener 44 is moved downwardto the second coupling end 422, the operator may grip the outercircumferential surface 444 of the tubular fastener 44 and rotate thesame until the fastener internal thread 447 of the tubular fastener 44is tightened to the connection rod external thread 414 of the firstcoupling end 413. During rotation of the tubular fastener 44, thetubular fastener 44 moves downward relative to the first coupling end413, and the first coupling end 413 is gradually moved into the enlargedhole 445 until it is entirely sleeved by the tubular fastener 44.

When the non-threaded region 4430 of the tubular fastener 44 receivesthe first annular flange 425 and the first annular flange 425 abuts theloop-shaped end plate portion 442, the first annular flange 425 isclamped by the first coupling end 413 of the connection rod 41 and theloop-shaped end plate portion 442. By virtue of the tubular fastener 44that is operable to sleeve around the first extension rod 42 and theconnection rod 41 and rotatable to threadedly connect the first couplingend 413 to clamp the first annular flange 425 in the non-threaded region4430, the first extension rod 42 and the connection rod 41 are fixedlyconnected to each other.

Referring back to FIGS. 9 and 10, to assemble the first extension rod 42to the second extension rod 43 of the modular rod assembly 4 b or 4 c,the sleeve member internal thread 451 of the sleeve member 45 isthreadedly connected to the extension rod external thread 423 of thefirst extension rod 42. The second insertion portion 433 of the secondextension rod 43 is engagingly inserted into the reception hole 453 ofthe sleeve member 45. The second annular flange 434 of the secondextension rod 43 abuts the top end of the sleeve member 45. By disposingthe inserted second insertion portion 433 in engagement with thereception hole 453, the second extension rod 43 is prevented fromswaying with respect to the first extension rod 42. Subsequently, thetubular fasteners 44 is sleeved around the third coupling end 432 andthe sleeve member 45, and the tubular fastener 44 is rotated to engagethe fastener internal thread 447 of the tubular fastener 44 with thesleeve member external thread 452 of the sleeve member 45. Duringrotation of the tubular fastener 44, the sleeve member 45 graduallyextends into the enlarged hole 445 of the tubular fastener 44.

When the loop-shaped end plate portion 442 of the tubular fastener 44abuts the second annular flange 434, the tubular fastener 44 is unableto move relative to the sleeve member 45, and the loop-shaped end plateportion 442 and the sleeve member 45 cooperatively clamp the secondannular flange 434.

It is worth mentioning that the connection rod 41 in this embodiment isa one-component structure. However, according to other embodiments, theconnection rod 41 may have a two-component structure. As shown in FIGS.11 and 12, the connection rod 41 has a connection rod main body 4101formed with a main body external thread 4102, and a sleeve member 45,which is similar in structure to the sleeve member 45 connected to thefirst extension rod external thread 423 of the first extension rod 42(see FIG. 9). The sleeve member 45 of the connection rod 41 has a sleevemember internal thread 451 connectable to the main body external thread4102, and a sleeve member external thread 452. When the sleeve memberinternal thread 451 is threadedly connected to the main body externalthread 4102, the sleeve member 45 serves to form the first coupling end413 of the connection rod 41, and the sleeve member external thread 452serves to form the connection rod external thread 414.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a lighting assembly according to a secondembodiment of the disclosure, which has a structure generally similar tothat of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, eachtubular fastener 44 has a structure different from that of the firstembodiment. The outer circumferential surface 444 of each tubularfastener 44 is formed with two diametrically opposite notches 448. Eachtubular fastener 44 further has two flat facets 4481 that arerespectively formed in the notches 448 and that are parallel with eachother (see FIG. 12). The flat facets 4481 allows a user to use a toolfor gripping and rotating the tubular fastener 44 by placing the tool inabutment with the flat facets 4481. The tubular fastener 44 of thisembodiment can facilitate the operation of assembling the modular rodassembly of the disclosure.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a lighting assembly according to a thirdembodiment of the disclosure, which has a structure generally similar tothat of the first embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, theouter circumferential surface 444 of each tubular fastener 44 is formedwith a knurled texture, which facilitates gripping and rotating thetubular fastener 44 by the user's hand.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details have been set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to oneskilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practicedwithout some of these specific details. It should also be appreciatedthat reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number andso forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be furtherappreciated that in the description, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in theunderstanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or morefeatures or specific details from one embodiment may be practicedtogether with one or more features or specific details from anotherembodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what areconsidered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intendedto cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular rod assembly, comprising: a connectionrod having a first coupling end; a first extension rod having a secondcoupling end removably connected to said first coupling end of saidconnection rod; and at least one tubular fastener that is operable tosleeve around said first and second coupling ends such that said atleast one tubular fastener is engaged with said first coupling end andthat said second coupling end is clamped between said first coupling endand said at least one tubular fastener.
 2. The modular rod assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second coupling ends areinserted one into the other, and said at least one tubular fastener ismovably disposed around said first extension rod and is operable to moveto said first and second coupling ends.
 3. The modular rod assembly asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said first coupling end of said connectionrod has a connection rod external thread, said at least one tubularfastener having a fastener internal thread threadedly connected to saidconnection rod external thread.
 4. The modular rod assembly as claimedin claim 3, wherein said second coupling end of said first extension rodhas a first annular flange that is clamped by said first coupling end ofsaid connection rod and said at least one tubular fastener.
 5. Themodular rod assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tubularfastener has a tubular portion and a loop-shaped end plate portiontransversely connected to said tubular portion, said tubular portionhaving an inner surrounding surface that is formed with said fastenerinternal thread, said loop-shaped end plate portion protruding inwardlyfrom a top end of said inner surrounding surface, said first annularflange being clamped by said first coupling end of said connection rodand said loop-shaped end plate portion.
 6. The modular rod assembly asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said first extension rod further has a firstrod body, said second coupling end of said first extension rod furtherhaving a first insertion portion extending downwardly from a bottom endof said first rod body, said first annular flange of said secondcoupling end extending radially and outwardly from said first insertionportion, said first coupling end of said connection rod having a holeinto which said first insertion portion is inserted, said tubularportion of said tubular fastener further having an enlarged hole boundedby said inner surrounding surface, said loop-shaped end plate portion ofsaid tubular fastener tube bounding a narrowed hole communicating withand being smaller in diameter than said enlarged hole, said firstcoupling end of said connection rod and said second coupling end of saidfirst extension rod being received in said enlarged hole, said first rodbody of said first extension rod extending through said narrowed hole.7. The modular rod assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said firstextension rod further has a first rod body, said second coupling end ofsaid first extension rod further having a first insertion portionextending downwardly from a bottom end of said first rod body, saidfirst coupling end of said connection rod having a hole into which saidfirst insertion portion is inserted.
 8. The modular rod assembly asclaimed in claim 6, further comprising a second extension rod and asleeve member, said first rod body of said first extension rod having afirst extension rod external thread opposite to said second coupling endof said first extension rod, said second extension rod having a thirdcoupling end, said sleeve member having a sleeve member internal threadthreadedly connectable to said extension rod external thread, and asleeve member external thread, said at least one tubular fastener havingtwo tubular fasteners, one of said tubular fasteners being disposedaround said second coupling end and engaging said first coupling end,the other one of said tubular fasteners being sleeved around said thirdcoupling end and said sleeve member such that said sleeve memberexternal thread is engaged with said fastener internal thread, saidthird coupling end being clamped between said other one of said tubularfasteners and said sleeve member.
 9. The modular rod assembly as claimedin claim 8, wherein said second extension rod further has a second rodbody, said third coupling end of said second extension rod having asecond insertion portion extending downwardly from a bottom end of saidsecond rod body, and a second annular flange that extends radially andoutwardly from said second insertion portion, said sleeve member furtherhaving a reception hole into which said second insertion portion isinserted, said loop-shaped end plate portion of said other one of saidtubular fasteners and said sleeve member cooperatively clamping saidsecond annular flange, said third coupling of said second extension rodand said sleeve member being received in said enlarged hole of saidother one of said tubular fasteners, said second rod body extendingthrough said narrowed hole of said other one of said tubular fasteners.10. The modular rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said atleast one tubular fastener has an outer circumferential surface formedwith two diametrically opposite notches, and two flat facets that arerespectively formed in said notches and that are parallel with eachother.
 11. The connection rod unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidtubular fastener has an outer peripheral surface formed with a roughtexture.
 12. A modular rod assembly, comprising: a connection rod havinga first coupling end; a first extension rod having a second coupling endremovably inserted into said first coupling end; and a tubular fastenerthat is operable to sleeve around said first and second coupling endssuch that said tubular fastener is engaged with said first coupling endand that said second coupling end is clamped between said first couplingend and said tubular fastener.
 13. The modular rod assembly as claimedin claim 12, wherein said first coupling end has a connection rodexternal thread, said tubular fastener having a fastener internalthread, said second coupling end having a first annular flange, saidtubular fastener being sleeved around said first annular flange and saidconnection rod external thread, said fastener internal thread engagingsaid connection rod external thread, said first annular flange beingclamped between said connection rod external thread and said tubularfastener.
 14. The modular rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, whereinsaid tubular fastener has a tubular portion and a loop-shaped end plateportion transversely connected to said tubular portion, said tubularportion having an inner surrounding surface that is formed with saidfastener internal thread, said loop-shaped end plate portion protrudinginwardly from a top end of said inner surrounding surface, said firstannular flange being clamped between said connection rod external threadand said end plate portion.
 15. The modular rod assembly as claimed inclaim 14, wherein said inner surrounding surface of said tubularfastener has a non-threaded region between said loop-shaped end plateportion and said fastener internal thread to receive said first annularflange.
 16. The modular rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, whereinsaid connection rod further has a connection rod main body formed with amain body external thread, and a sleeve member that has a sleeve memberinternal thread threadedly connectable to said main body externalthread, and a sleeve member external thread, said sleeve member formingsaid first coupling end and said sleeve member external thread formingsaid connection rod external thread when said sleeve member isthreadedly connected to said main body external thread.
 17. A lightingassembly comprising: a light stand; and a light module including alighting unit and a modular rod assembly connecting said lighting unitto said light stand, said modular rod assembly including a connectionrod, a first extension rod connected to said connection rod, and atubular fastener, said connection rod having a first coupling end, saidfirst extension rod having a second coupling end, said tubular fastenerbeing movably disposed around said first extension rod and beingoperable to move toward and sleeve around said first and second couplingends such that said tubular fastener is engaged with said first couplingend and that said second coupling end is clamped between said firstcoupling end and said tubular fastener.
 18. The lighting assembly asclaimed in claim 17, wherein said first coupling end has a connectionrod external thread, said tubular fastener having a fastener internalthread, said second coupling end being inserted into said first couplingend and having a first annular flange, said tubular fastener is sleevedaround said first annular flange and said connection rod externalthread, said fastener internal thread engaging said connection rodexternal thread, said first annular flange being clamped between saidconnection rod external thread and said tubular fastener.